Pushbutton switch, operating unit, and amusement machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12579859-B2
Application number	US-202017996951-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 28, 2020
Priority date	May 28, 2020
Publication date	Mar 17, 2026
Grant date	Mar 17, 2026

Abstract

An amusement machine includes a button deck ( 10 ). The button deck ( 10 ) includes a transparent support plate ( 13 ) and a display ( 12 ) together serving as a touchscreen, and a pushbutton switch ( 15 ). The pushbutton switch ( 15 ) includes an operable portion ( 20 ) attached to one surface of the transparent support plate ( 13 ), and a detector ( 30 ) attached to another surface of the transparent support plate ( 13 ) and facing the operable portion ( 20 ). The operable portion ( 20 ) includes a button ( 21 ) and a reflective flapper ( 26 ) movable in response to movement of the button ( 21 ). The detector ( 30 ) includes a reflective sensor ( 34 ) that detects the pressed state of the button ( 21 ) through the transparent support plate ( 13 ). The reflective sensor ( 34 ) emits light toward the reflective flapper ( 26 ) and receives light reflected by the reflective flapper ( 26 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A pushbutton switch, comprising:
an operable portion attached to a first surface of a support comprising a plate and at least partially comprising a transparent area; and a detector attached to a second surface of the support and facing the operable portion with the transparent area being located between the detector and the operable portion, wherein the operable portion comprises a press portion and a movable light reflector pivotably supported so as to be movable between a first orientation and a second orientation in response to movement of the press portion, and the detector comprises a reflective sensor comprising a light emitter and a light receiver, and the reflective sensor emits, using the light emitter, light toward the light reflector through the transparent area, and receives, using the light receiver, light reflected by the light reflector through the transparent area to detect a pressed state of the press portion based on a change in intensity to the received light.

2 . The pushbutton switch according to claim 1 , wherein
the light reflector is pivotable, in response to movement of the press portion, between a first orientation and a second orientation, the light reflector in the first orientation reflects light from the light emitter in a direction for reception by the light receiver, and the light reflector in the second orientation reflects light from the light emitter in a direction different from the direction for reception by the light receiver.

3 . The pushbutton switch according to claim 2 , wherein
the light reflector is in the first orientation when the press portion is unpressed.

4 . The pushbutton switch according to claim 3 , wherein
the press portion comprises a transparent portion, and the detector has an opening in an area facing the transparent portion.

5 . The pushbutton switch according to claim 3 , wherein
the press portion comprises a transparent portion, and the detector comprises a transparent material in an area facing the transparent portion.

6 . The pushbutton switch according to claim 2 , wherein
the press portion comprises a transparent portion, and the detector has an opening in an area facing the transparent portion.

7 . The pushbutton switch according to claim 2 , wherein
the press portion comprises a transparent portion, and the detector comprises a transparent material in an area facing the transparent portion.

8 . The pushbutton switch according to claim 1 , wherein
the press portion comprises a transparent portion, and the detector has an opening in an area facing the transparent portion.

9 . The pushbutton switch according to claim 1 , wherein
the press portion comprises a transparent portion, and the detector comprises a transparent material in an area facing the transparent portion.

Assignees

• Omron Tateisi Electronics Co

Inventors

• Sumi Masaaki
• Agata Takehiro

Classifications

• H01H13/20

  Driving mechanisms · CPC title

• H01H13/14

  Operating parts, e.g. push-button · CPC title

• G07F17/3216

  Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects · CPC title

• G07F17/3211 Primary

  Display means · CPC title

• H01H2219/06

  Reflector · CPC title